John Riddell: Democracy in Lenin's Comintern

How did Communist parties handle issues of internal discipline and democracy in Lenin’s time? The recent intense discussion within the British Socialist Workers’ Party (SWP) and beyond has heard claims that the SWP rests on the traditions of democratic centralism inherited from the Bolsheviks.

Richard Atkinson: Death and the Bedroom Tax

Some extended thoughts about Stephanie Bottrill, the woman who committed suicide because of the bedroom tax.

Dave Renton: Who Was Blair Peach?

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the killing of Blair Peach by the police. David Renton looks back at Blair Peach’s life as a poet, trade unionist and committed antifascist

Over the course of the last week there has been another important development within the Socialist Workers Party.

The Fault Lines blog, set up by "a group of comrades in the SWP who opposed the leadership's handling of the crisis that enveloped the organisation", represents the third wave of opposition to the SWP Central Committee's disastrous course of action over the past six months. It further indicates that the crisis the leadership so desperately tried to claim was over is instead deepening.

This can only be seen as a positive development by those who are dedicated to the rejuvenation of the International Socialist tradition and the struggle for a democratic, revolutionary organisation of the working class. We take seriously any initiative within the SWP that seeks to fight the bureaucratic and sectarian Central Committee - whose actions have left it with no legitimacy to hold leadership within any organisation, let alone one claiming to be the revolutionary party of the working class.

In this spirit we would like to extend our solidarity to all those within the organisation fighting in the best interests of our movement and tradition.